The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Cougars earn third straight state berth
Lake sweeps Gilmour, will face Indian Valley in final four in Fairborn
STOW » The Division II Stow regional final between Lake Catholic and Gilmour promised high-level volleyball from two of Northeast Ohio’s top programs.
Yet, instead of a five-set nailbiter, the Cougars swept the Lancers to win their third straight regional title. Ultimately, Lake Catholic’s victory was decided as much by the Cougars’ play as the prevalence of Gilmour’s errors.
“It was a strange regional final,” Lake Catholic coach Rob Cline said. “It was one of the worst performances, as a coach looking at stats and analyzing it, it was one of the worst performances. But I’ll take it.”
Junior middle Ainslie McLaughlin led the Cougars with nine kills, senior Ashley Browske added eight, and freshman Jessica Wilson finished with six. Junior setter Katy Yopko led the team with 19 digs and 30 assists. Senior libero Mallory Lough added 16 digs.
Lake Catholic advances to a D-II state semifinal Nov. 9 against Gnadehutten Indian Valley at Wright State’s Nutter Center.
The Cougars head to the state final four for the third straight season.
“I’m so excited,” Browske said. “Especially going back for the third year, it almost feels natural so it feels so good this time because it’s my senior year.”
A rash of errors opened the match before McLaughlin’s block put Lake Catholic up, 10-9, in the first set. Kylie Snyder’s kill extended the Cougars’ lead to 1813. Lake Catholic took set point, 25-19, on a shot out of bounds.
McLaughlin did the majority of her damage in the second set. Her block gave the Cougars a 6-4 lead and the 6-foot-2 junior’s kill put Lake Catholic ahead, 20-18, late in the set. After a handful of Gilmour errors, McLaughlin closed out a 25-21 victory.
McLaughlin’s energy in the second set derived from her work at the net.
“I just really wanted to stuff them,” McLaughlin said. “so I did.”
Gilmour opened the third set with a 4-1 run before Lake Catholic rallied. The teams remained tied, 15-15, before the Lancers briefly forged ahead. Gilmour led, 20-17, late in the third after sophomore middle Caroline Rarick tipped down a point.
The Cougars responded to tie the set at 22-22. Browske sent them to Wright State with a kill for match point in a 25-23 set win.
Freshman outside hitter Kathryn Randorf led Gilmour with 10 kills and three blocks. MacLellan, a sophomore middle, and sophomore outside hitter Morgan Mueller added nine kills apiece. Senior setter Megan Brzozowski finished with 22 assists and 11 digs. Senior libero Kenzie O’Connor led the Lancers with 27 digs.
Coach Danny Coughlin estimated Gilmour committed at least 15 service errors alone. Those mistakes proved too costly.
“Some of it’s trying to do too much,” Coughlin said. “But errors, we can’t have that many errors in a regional final and expect to win.”
Gilmour advanced to its first regional final as a D-II program. The Lancers return a core marked by youth and immense potential. Randorf, who led the team in kills and blocks, just turned 14 years old during the fall. MacLellan, Rarick, libero Emmy Klika, setter Ava Nestor and Mueller are rising juniors with two full years of varsity experience.
Coughlin figures the experience gained from two regional matches at Stow will benefit his young players.
“The only way you get it is being there,” Couhglin said. “Brinn did well, Caroline did well. I don’t think they, metaphorically, cracked under pressure. I thought they did really well.”